BIPOC medical experts say that the answer to the questions “Is body mass index accurate?”
is “no"particularly for people of color.
Sabrina Strings has a B.A.
with High Honors in Psychology from University of California-Berkeley and an M.A.
in Sociology from University of California-San Diego.
She received her Ph.D. from University of California-San Diego.
Director of Research, Senior Vice President, and Head of the Section on Vascular Cell Biology at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
Fast-forward to 1972, when physicians were looking for a standard by which to measure obesity.
Sadly, her search came up empty.
Not only is the BMI not necessarily an inclusive measure of health, but its also an inaccurate one.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
Take diabetes risk, which is commonly associated with aBMI of 30 or higher.
This year, they came back elevated, and something was not right, says Gomez.
Her sisters experience, says Gomez, is just one example of an all-too-common ordeal within many BIPOC communities.
And that, genetically, they may never be able to fit in.
Not only is this dangerous for physical healthoutcomes, but Gomez says its consistently taxing onmental healthas well.
Director of Research, Senior Vice President, and Head of the Section on Vascular Cell Biology at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
Theres a chilling effect, says Dr. Strings.
(This is a tenet of theHealth at Every Size ethos, a health-care philosophy that is weight-neutral.)
However, the road to abolishing the BMI wont be a straight line.
Just because the existing system chalks your health up to your height and weight doesnt meanyouhave to believe it.
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